Plenty of cash, spare time and an understanding partner!!! 
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And a really big paddock!
First up, Define āLong Rangeā. What we talking about 500m, 1000m maybe 3200m? Shooting game or paper?
Long Range can be different for everybody. I think a good definition should be related to the ballistics of your rifle. Either on a certain amount of drop, loss of energy, or going trans sonic. That should make the Rainbow people happy.
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Absolutely, Sungazer. 300m is quite a long way for a 22lr but not even a warm up for Bretts big 50.
Personally i would call 500-600m mid range but Iāve never had a chance to shoot further. I guess Iād call it true long range when you start getting out to 1km and pushing further.
As you point out, Brett, itās a subject with a bunch of sub-topics of there ownā¦
Based on the answer to what range then some advice on whatās required. Distances out too 1000m punching paper are best served by something in the 6-7mm caliber but if smashing fur Iād be looking at .338-.375. Out past 1600m then definitely getting into the realm of .375Cheytac, .416 Barrett, .460 Steyr and 50BMG. Then thereās the topic of best scopeā¦without an understanding of what the OPās trying to achieve its difficult to suggest much other then mortgage the house 
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Really just trying to provoke some discussion on the topic. Iām still getting set up for fclass out to 600yd and wonāt really try to push myself further untill i start posting some reliable decent scores at that range.
Personally Iām still fantasizing about a 284Shehane but am working with my 7-08, which will eventually become my heavy varmint gun once i build a dedicated target rig.
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If 600 yrds was going to be you limit the 6mm and the 6.5 as Brett mentioned are the ones to go for a 6mmBRX and just about any of the 6.5 L or C L seems more popular in F ATM I think that may change. Those two really are the most accurate rounds and can beat the wind. There is a guy in the club that is not the greatest shooter but recently he finally got his gun set up and is now shooting 60s nearly every week other than he has a tendancy to shoot on the wrong target at least a 50% chance one week he had two 54-6 54-7 and then a 60 as he shot on the wrong target. Then a couple of weeks ago he forgot to put the powder in one lucky I was on RO and stopped him before he rechambered another round yes the projectile was stuck in the barrel. He has done the opposite and we think put the wrong powder is having a pretty big primer blow out. 
I do like the 6.5 after seeing it go consistently well out to 600 in both a Sako hunter and a Barnard custom build. These rifles were both 6.5x55. The Sako often out shot a Barnard 308win. Given, the bloke with the 308 wasnāt particularly focused on those days and it would be give and take between the two on different weeks but the fact that a light hunting rifle could keep up at club level really quashed the idea that you need to rush out and buy a dedicated target rifle from the get go. I guess if you want to get into precision shooting, the first thing you need is the attitude to work on your technique and loads, etc. Then you can upgrade your gear as the bug bites you or as funds allow.
I chose to chamber my rifle in 7mm-08 because I wanted to learn to shoot well out further but also learn the basic ballistics of that cartridge for future purchase a lefty hunter in that chambering and to feel more comfortable taking shots at mid to extended ranges. My reason for getting into F-class was just to improve my shooting skills at rangeā¦ then hitting (or chasing) Xs became addictive but not everyone gets into it with the dream of becoming world champion or even competing beyond club or local comp level.
Eventually, I do want to compete out to 1500m so for now Iāll stick to my 284shehane fantasy. From my research it is a very capable and competitive cartridge. This will be some time off so this may well change.
As I am a tight arse with too many expensive hobbies, the tendency for cartridges like the 6.5/284 to burn barrel quickly is also a little off puttingā¦
Iām still looking to build a custom F-Class rifle and 7mm RSAUM was the suggested chambering. Iām not familiar with that cartridge, do you guys know much about it?
Canāt say Iām familiar, Brett. What reasons were given for this cartridge? I had heard/read that the SAUM is overbore and so burns barrels like nobodyās business (more reading: nope; I had this confused with the RUMā¦ completely different animal). Gotta say, I havenāt even heard of RSAUM! (edit: reading more are they the same cartridge?)
You got me curious, @Brett , and I found this page. Still reading it myself but thought you may be interested if you hadnāt seen it before: http://bulletin.accurateshooter.com/tag/7mm-rsaum/
And here is a couple of articles on the 284 Shehane:
http://bulletin.accurateshooter.com/tag/284-shehane/
http://bulletin.accurateshooter.com/2012/05/284-shehane-284-improved-for-long-range/
Reading the above links (the RSAUM link has a VERY useful video interview on F-class success), I am still convinced of the Shehane.
The RSAUM seems to have a slight advantage of a shorter, wider case which will technically give you the option of a shorter and stiffer action (if you were building a repeater rifle, the short action would hamper seating depth for the 284 and so a mid length action is suggested by some to be optimal; I guess in a single shot target rifle, using a short action would be fine) but uses significantly more powder to achieve similar velocities to the 284 Shehane. This will technically lead to shorter barrel life. It is also āfinickyā to load for, according to the bloke interviewed who is a world class champion shooter who uses the RSAUM.
On the other hand, the 284 Shehane can drive a 180gn bullet at up to 3050fps using less powder and has a level of inherent accuracy that makes it easy to develop a reliable load for. People report good accuracy of onder o.25moa, even while fire forming brass from 284win cases.
combined multiple posts aboveā¦
The 7mm RSAUM is the cartridge of choice for the F-Open guys competing at the top level. I dont think it is noted as a barrel burner much more than the other 7mm 284 based cartridges. I believe the entire Australian team that competed in Canada were using the 7mm RSAUM. I have talked a bit about the gun with some of those guys and they pretty much just say its the best.
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My question is: why do they say it is the best?
Is it just the latest flavour or is there a specific reason given?
If itās giving same velocities with less powder and is easier to load for, makes me wonder if itās just another fad for the āi need to be different like everyone elseā crowd who are just wanting the ālatest and greatestāā¦?
Has anybody on here taken up the challenge of long range shooting?
Iām kinda hooked into it. Donāt compete just do it for fun on the farm.
May i ask what cal and distances
And while you are answering all that @Gregfiddich and @sungazer for that matter, maybe share some stuff you have/need/canāt live without that is not a gun or scope? Gotchas and pitfalls?
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I set up an āentry levelā rig , not cheap, for getting out to 500m. I have yet to test itās true ability on paper but I can hit the small 500m gong at Little River with ease. The gong would be about 8-10 inches.
I have yet to get it on paper past 300m
Itās a Howa 26inch heavy barrel. 6.5 Creedmoor and uses AISC pattern mags.
KRG Bravo Chassis
Also running a Vortex Venom 5-25x56 scope with MOA adjustments.
I did a fair bit of research into a rig that was cost effective and good ābang for your bucksā.
Total investment in this rig was $2200.
Shoots sub moa at 300m and can easily do 10+ shot strings into the gong at LR.
Not āCheapā, but I did my homework and put together what I feel is a very good value for money LR rig. My next goal is to hit a Coke can at 500m